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Topic Review (Newest First)

08-12-2009 12:14 AM

MRGUMBY

Thanks for the info and the concern!

08-11-2009 10:00 PM

NEW INTERIORS

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGUMBY

The wilder idea is to chop the caravan and fill the windows, making a service delivery out of it. The tires would be outside the body, like a roadster and if you kept the nose off it, it changes the whole look of the vehicle.

I agree with Cboy here..You really need to check into this....The things you said here,Will most likely be a red flag..The tire's outside the body.Will not pass here..Not sure about where you are..And no nose on it will be a flag too.It all come's down to the year of the car..Sound's like you have a plan...But make sure before you put the time and money into it..I know here you better not do the things you said..But that's here..We are not trying to shoot down your plan,Just telling you what to check into..Good luck..

08-11-2009 09:10 PM

cboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGUMBY

The tires would be outside the body, like a roadster and if you kept the nose off it, it changes the whole look of the vehicle.

Just a slight word of caution. You may want to check the VA regulations regarding title requirements and allowable modifications before you get too far down the line and have real money tied up in this project. Most state DMV offices have pretty decent web sites that explain the rules and will hopefully point you to a copy of the actual regulations that your legislature has most likely adopted. You just don't want to run into any big surprises down the line, particularly if you are depending on this being your daily driver.

08-11-2009 01:56 PM

MRGUMBY

I think I love you guys.

(Nothin queer now...think of it...Viking style.)

The trans I have is from a older Corolla RWD.

It needs a small mod, but it will work.

The clutch from a 1987 Camry seems to be perfect.

I might not even turbo the thing. I really just need a daily beater to replace the Camry I drive now, which has 200+ on it and is rotten bad bad bad.

Why not make a rod as a daily?? Thats what I thought.

I can get a 3:50 rear under it for free and if I use the cowl/firewall from a Caravan, have all the goodies like A/C and delay wipers.

The wilder idea is to chop the caravan and fill the windows, making a service delivery out of it. The tires would be outside the body, like a roadster and if you kept the nose off it, it changes the whole look of the vehicle.

To use the whole thing would bring the weight right up though.

08-11-2009 12:20 AM

2-manytoyzs

Google thru the Toyota Forums. There is s a ton of info on swaps. Nice thing about Toyota is the eng/trans mostly have the same bolt patterns so a FWD eng will bolt to a RWD trans. They actually spent the time to build them right so they dont need balance shafts for FWD cars like American manufactured cars. I have an 86 RWD Corolla parts car I will use in Morris Minor if I can ever find the time to start that job. Go for it. I always stop to check out a car when the builder is creative enough to build it without a 350/350. I have a pile of 1.9 2.0 2.3 and Zetec stuff for my other Morris's. I'm even considering the 2.3 turbo for the 35 Ford pu. Got good mileage and lots of power in my XR4TI.

How about two four bangers inline? How hard would that be? Maybe you could couple them with some sort of one way clutch so you could shut down or idle the front engine when it's not needed. When it is needed you could fire it up and they could run together for double the horsepower.

Yes, I know that's very elaborate and probably incredibly expensive but I'm bored and feel like sharing silly ideas.

08-10-2009 11:14 PM

NEW INTERIORS

The LS is a very nice way to go..

08-10-2009 11:10 PM

Chevrolet4x4s

You might be surprised, but you should be able to pull off better mileage with an ls1, from what I understand low - mid 30s highway are fairly common with the 6 speeds in the vettes/f-bodys
Shane

08-10-2009 10:55 PM

85_Olds

no matter where you go, what you drive, or how it looks, there are always ALWAYS going to be people that sneer and turn their noses up if its out of the ordinary. dont worry about those people, they just want to be in it to be cool. the people that know cars, that really care about them, the people that do it for the love of cars and not the "bling factor" so to speak-they will see what you have done, they will ask questions and they will know how much it really took to make your vision a dream. those are the people you should care about. and they will love your idea! and to top it off-its going to be your car-not theirs, so you should make it your way! if it works for you and you like it thats all that matters. the only thing that might suck is that your are going to have to post a bunch of pictures so we can all bask in the glory! good luck man-and have fun!

08-10-2009 10:47 PM

ramzoom

Go for it! I am all for nice and sneaky with some good mileage.....

08-10-2009 10:04 PM

Blazin72

Put a small turbo on that 4 banger...

Being a Toyota though I'm pretty sure it would be from a front wheel drive car (?). What RWD trans would you use?

08-10-2009 06:56 PM

mgold

I think you should do what you want! Some people might laugh at you, but it's your car and your project! If you want something cool and that saves gas I think that's fine!

08-10-2009 06:46 PM

scrimshaw

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEW INTERIORS

Look man,If your worried about someone laughing at you,Get out of this hobby now,,No matter what you do and this hobby,There's always someone that won't like what you do..:

HAHAHA That's a great line. People laugh at what I do all the time!

I agree with everyone else. Do what you want to do. You might be surprised to find out how many people like to see something different.

08-10-2009 05:26 PM

NEW INTERIORS

I think a blown 454 would be nice..But that's me.. Look man,If your worried about someone laughing at you,Get out of this hobby now,,No matter what you do and this hobby,There's always someone that won't like what you do..Build it like you want it.And don't ever worry about who like's it and who don't..Believe me when I tell you this..It's the story of my life..I know there's people that don't like what I do,But I don't worry about them..''Please yourself in life'' and don't worry about them...Remember they are just jealous they can't do it...

08-10-2009 05:05 PM

cboy

Let your local friends laugh all they want. I've seen nicely prepared 4 bangers that will leave V8 powered behemoths gasping in their dust...AND get about double the miles per gallon while doing it.

As others have said, this is a sport where the individual's taste comes first and foremost. Build what YOU want to build and you'll never go wrong.

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